True or False? Some Common Misconceptions Regarding Leprosy. Q: Can you get leprosy by touching someone who has it? A:No, not really. Actually, approximately 95% of world's population is totally immune to the bacteria that causes leprosy. Scientists do think, though, that it can be passed through mucus from the nose and lungs, and perhaps through soil. It cannot be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her fetus, nor through sexual acts. (Seghal 22-23) Q: Does leprosy make your arms and legs fall of? A:Leprosy does not cause flesh to rot and fingers and toes to drop off. In the past, limbs that have been damaged because the person cannot feel pain have sometimes had to be amputated. Now that the disease can be detected early, the need to amputate is rare.(Better Health Channel)
Common Questions Regarding Leprosy
Q: Of all the animals in the world, whey would armadillos be the preferred hosts for leprosy?
A: The leprosy bacteria thrive in the cooler parts of an organism's body. Armadillos have a body temperature ranging from 28 to 33 degrees Celcius compared to the human's 37 degree body temperature. Also, armadillos can live for 12-15 years therefore by testing armadillos, scientists can observe the advanded symptoms of leprosy. Armadillos in the wild can have leprosy, which creates a concern about the ability of the disease spreading to humans.(Sehgal 69)
Q:How many people are affected by leprosy every year?
A:Statistics of Leprosy according to WHO(Worldwide Health Organization)
Table One: - How much leprosy has grown and the number of new cases detected- For 2008, made by WHO
a) WHO region
b) Registered prevalence, beginning 2008
c) New cases detected,2007
African
30 055 (0.47)
31 037 (4.85)
Americas
49 388 (0.96)
41 978 (8.15)
South-East Asia
120 967 (0.72)
171 552 (10.22)
Eastern Mediterranean
4 240 (0.09)
4 091 (0.85)
Western Pacific
8 152 (0.05)
5 867 (0.34)
Total
212 802
254 525
a) Population data from World population prospects: the 2004 revision, Vol. 1, Table A20. New York, United Nations Population Division. Data from the European Region not included.b) Values are number (rate/10 000 population).
c) Values are number (rate/100 000 population). http://www.who.int/wer/2008/wer8333.pdf Table 2 Trends in the detection of new cases of leprosy, by WHO region, 2001–2007 (excluding European Region) ---- WHO r
Q: Can you get leprosy by touching someone who has it?
A:No, not really. Actually, approximately 95% of world's population is totally immune to the bacteria that causes leprosy. Scientists do think, though, that it can be passed through mucus from the nose and lungs, and perhaps through soil. It cannot be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her fetus, nor through sexual acts. (Seghal 22-23)
Q: Does leprosy make your arms and legs fall of?
A:Leprosy does not cause flesh to rot and fingers and toes to drop off. In the past, limbs that have been damaged because the person cannot feel pain have sometimes had to be amputated. Now that the disease can be detected early, the need to amputate is rare. (Better Health Channel)
Common Questions Regarding Leprosy
Q: Of all the animals in the world, whey would armadillos be the preferred hosts for leprosy?
A: The leprosy bacteria thrive in the cooler parts of an organism's body. Armadillos have a body temperature ranging from 28 to 33 degrees Celcius compared to the human's 37 degree body temperature. Also, armadillos can live for 12-15 years therefore by testing armadillos, scientists can observe the advanded symptoms of leprosy. Armadillos in the wild can have leprosy, which creates a concern about the ability of the disease spreading to humans.(Sehgal 69)
Q:How many people are affected by leprosy every year?
A:Statistics of Leprosy according to WHO(Worldwide Health Organization)
Table One:
- How much leprosy has grown and the number of new cases detected- For 2008, made by WHO
a) Population data from World population prospects: the 2004 revision, Vol. 1, Table A20. New York, United Nations Population Division. Data from the European Region not included. b) Values are number (rate/10 000 population).
c) Values are number (rate/100 000 population).
http://www.who.int/wer/2008/wer8333.pdf
Table 2 Trends in the detection of new cases of leprosy, by WHO region, 2001–2007 (excluding European Region)
----
WHO r
http://www.who.int/wer/2008/wer8333.pdf